Centipedegrass plant named &#39;BA-417&#39;

ABSTRACT

A newly discovered, and asexually prorogated genotype of Centipedegrass with a distinct set of agronomic, horticultural, and morphological traits.

GENUS AND SPECIES NAME

This invention relates to a new and distinct genotype of Centipedegrassof the genus and species Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack. It isdescribed herein and designated as ‘BA-417’. As used herein, ‘BA-417’has the identical meaning as “Hammock Centipede”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention was discovered and identified in central Palm BeachCounty, Florida. It was one of a number of unique and distinctlydifferent vegetative off types/inclusions growing on a sandy soil in auncultivated wooded area adajacent to a church and its parking area

‘BA-417’ was originally propagated asexually from a single 6.0 inchstolon taken from the off type inclusion noted above in the summer of1997. ‘BA-417’ was chosen from a group of advanced lines initiallyselected as off types in an undeveloped and unimproved population ofcentipedegrass, which is consistently known and recognized throughoutthe turf industry and in the scientific literature as “Common”centipedegrass”. Over a four year research period ‘BA-417’ wasvegetatively propagated multiple times and evaluated at three researchsites in Florida. Throughout multiple vegetative increases, ‘BA-417’ hasremained uniform and genetically consistent. The denomination of thisnew invention is ‘BA-417’, but in commerce ‘BA-417’ will be marketedunder the synonym “Hammock Centipede”, which is its commercialdesignation in the United States.

The distinctness of ‘BA-417’ from ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) and itsprogenitor, the “Common” population of centipedegrass, is based on foursets of traits including: 1) floral morphology; 2) leaf and stemmorphology; 3) color and pigmentation; and 4) rate of growth and cover.

For the purpose of registration under the “International Convention forthe Protection of New Varieties of Plants” (generally known by itsFrench acronym UPOV Convention) and noting Sections 1612 of the Manualof Patent Examination Procedures this new variety of Centipedegrass ofthe present invention is named ‘BA-417’.

BRIEF DESCRIPITION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: A comparative photograph of ‘BA-417’ and the “Common” populationof centipedegrass. These pots were grown side-by-side, uncut and underidentical cultural practices. This photograph illustrates morphologicaldifferences among the varieties.

FIG. 2: A comparative photograph of ‘BA-417’ and the “Common” populationof centipedegrass illustrating morphological differences in stolons.These pots were grown side-by-side, uncut and under identical culturalpractices.

FIG. 3: A Breeders Block of ‘BA-417’ growing in Avon Park, Fla.

FIG. 4: A close-up photograph of the Breeders Block of ‘BA-417’ showingleaf morphology.

FIG. 5: A close-up photograph of ‘BA-417’ showing the leaf canopy.

FIG. 6: A side profile photograph of ‘BA-417’ after a recent cutting.

FIG. 7: A aerial photograph of ‘BA-417’ after a recent cutting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

This new variety of Centipedegrass is a perennial warm season turfspecies that is stoloniferous, branched and prostrate against the groundsurface (FIG. 2 and FIG. 7), with leaves, roots and reproductivestructures that can arise from the same node and ultimately forms adense sward and subsequent thatch structure. This new variety of plantis propagated asexually from either stolons, sprigs, or plugs (FIG. 2).It is best adapted to the subtropical climates of Florida. ‘BA-417’ wastested and described under field conditions at three research sites inFlorida, including Arcadia, Belle Glade, and Milton. ‘BA-417’ wasphenotypically compared to ‘Centennial’, an unpatented variety developedby Auburn University (Pedersen and Dickens, 1985), and the undevelopedand unimproved population of centipedegrass typically referred to as“Common” centipedegrass. ‘BA-417’ displayed a closer morphologicallikenss to ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) than to the “Common” centipedegrassfor floral, leaf and stolon traits. But, ‘BA-417’ was distinct fromthese standards for vegetative color, pigment, and the rate of“grow-in”.

Floral morphology was described by five measured traits, and ‘BA-417’differed from the standard varieties for four of the five traits.Overall, ‘BA-417’ produced an average inflorescence that wassignificantly longer than either ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) or “Common”centipedegrass (Table 1). The average peduncle and seed head length wasalso longer on ‘BA-417’ than the two standard varieties.Proportionately, the seedhead accounted for 38.6% of the overallinflorescence length on ‘BA-417’. ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) and “Common”centipedegrass had 40.3% and 45.9% of the inflorescence length asseedhead tissue. The average number of seeds per seedhead ranged from19.15 to 20.70. On a density basis, ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) had themost compact arrangement with 4.19 seeds/cm of raceme length, while‘BA-417’ and “Common” centipedegrass had seeds less densely arranged onthe raceme with 3.68 and 3.78 seeds/cm of raceme length, respectively. Aunique feature of these centipede grasses was the propensity to producerudimentary or secondary spikelets on the seedhead. ‘BA-417’ producedsignificantly fewer secondary spiklets than either ‘Centennial’(unpatented) or “Common” centipedegrass (Table 1).

The morphology of the flag leaf was described by three traits, whichincluded the flag leaf length and width, along with the sheath length.‘BA-417’ differed from “Common” centipedegrass for the dimensions of allthree flag leaf traits. For each flag leaf trait ‘BA-417’ had a morerobust morphology (Table 2). The flag leaves of ‘BA-417’ averaged 68.6%longer and 52.5% wider than “Common” centipedegrass. The flag leafsheaths of these varieties were keeled, with pubescent margins thatoverlapped from the base. For ‘BA-417’ the length of the flag leafsheaths were 18.3% longer than the sheaths on “Common” centipedegrass.This more robust morphology of the flag leaf traits was consistent withthe larger floral morphology of ‘BA-417’.

The morphology of the vegetative tissue was measured by the dimensionsof leaf length and width, and the internode length and width. For allthree test varieties, the leaves were similarly erect, linear, rigid,and shiny, with variable apices. There were no unique or noteworthytaxonomic differences in the structure or characteristics of the leafcollar, ligules or sheaths among the tested varieties. The morphology ofthe internode tissue of ‘BA-417’ was intermediate in dimensions whencompared to ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) and “Common” centipedegrass, whilethe vegetative leaf tissue was smaller than standard varieties (Table3). The internodes are mostly smooth, solid and somewhat oval withleaves that emerged basally from moderately hairy nodes that are highlybranched. The leaf length of ‘BA-417’ was shorter than ‘Centennial’(unpatented) and “Common” centipedegrass, but only the differencebetween ‘BA-417’ and “Common” centipedegrass was statistically relevant(Table 3). ‘BA-417’ produced leaves that were nearly 10.0 mm or 28%shorter than “Common” centipedegrass. Compared to the standardvarieties, ‘BA-417’ had narrower leaves as well. The differences in leafwidth were not significant among the varieties, and only had a 0.15 mmrange. The internode length of ‘BA-417’ was not significantly differentfrom either standard variety, but all three varieties differedstatistically for internode width (Table 3). In general, the smallerleaf structures of ‘BA-417’, along with intermediate internode traitsconferred a finer texture to the appearance of ‘BA-417’.

An integrated measure of canopy appearance, texture and color isassessed by the overall quality rating (Table 4). In each summer month,‘BA-417’ had a significantly higher rating than “Common” centipedegrass.Similarly, ‘BA-417’ produced superior quality ratings as compared to‘Centennial’ (unpatented), but these values were not statisticallysignificant (Table 4).

The color and pigment deposition in ‘BA-417’, “Common” centipedegrassand ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) varied when fresh samples of vegetativetissue were compared to color panels in the Munsell Color Chart (1977).The adaxial leaf surface of ‘BA-417’ ranged in hue from 2.5GY TO 7.5GYand exhibited more variation than either “Common” centipedegrass or‘Centennial’ (unpatented) (Table 5). ‘BA-417’ also had lighter valuesand less color saturation then either “Common” centipedegrass or‘Centennial’ (unpatented). In contrast, the green internode tissue onthe stolons of ‘BA-417’ had a consistently greener hue of 7.5GY comparedto ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) (Table 5). The ranges of the internodecolor values were different for each variety, but overlapped somewhat.‘BA-417’ and ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) had more color saturation (4-6)than “Common” centipedegrass, which ranged from (6-8). Anthocyanindeposition in the internode tissue produced the expected red (5R) andredish purple (5RP) hues in each variety (Table 5). ‘BA-417’consistently had a deeper red and reddish purple pigmentation thaneither “Common” centipedegrass or ‘Centennial’ (unpatented), and‘BA-417’ had a color saturation value intermediate to the othervarieties. The node color for each variety was also different, with someoverlap in the range of color parameters (Table 5). These categoricaldifferences in color contributed to the integrated measure of canopyappearance presented above.

These grasses had significantly different patterns of growth and ratesof “grow-in” (Table 6). Over the duration of the growth experiment‘BA-417’ differed significantly from ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) in fourof the twelve months, while “Common” centipedegrass differed in five ofthe twelve months. These differences had a seasonal pattern. ‘BA-417’and ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) had significantly slower growth ratesduring the winter months, while “Common” centipedegrass continued togrow more aggressively through the colder weather. This patterncontinued through the spring, but these differences were onlysignificant in May (Table 6). For all three varieties, the most rapidincrease in growth occurred in the spring months of March and April, butthis was expected. In the early spring, ‘BA-417’ exhibited an increasein plot cover of 43.3% between March and April, while ‘Centennial’(unpatented) and “Common” centipedegrass had increases in coverage of33.3% and 38.3%, respectively. From an initial 1% cover, all threevarieties attained 50% coverage between the sixth and seventh monthafter planting. ‘BA-417’ had accelerated growth in the spring and summermonths; ‘BA-417’ had significantly more plot coverage than ‘Centennial’(unpatented) from March onward, and significantly more coverage than“Common” centipedegrass from July onward (Table 6). The average stolonnumber and average stolon length could only be visually distinguishedthrough the first six months of these experiments, but ‘BA-417’ differedstatistically from “Common” centipedegrass for stolon number in three ofthese six months, and from ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) in the month ofJanuary (Table 6) (FIG. 2). For the average stolon length, ‘BA-417’ onlydiffered from “Common” centipedegrass in two of the six months. Althoughthese differences were statistically significant, it was difficult todiscern a consistent pattern or trend in the growth of stolon numbersand stolen length among the three varieties.

The results of the first “grow-in” study were repeated with similarresults in a second “grow-in” study in Milton, Fla. (Table 7A). In thiscase, the plots were planted in January with an initial coverage of 5%,and progressed through the summer. ‘BA-417’ had statistically morecoverage than either “Common” centipedegrass and ‘Centennial’(unpatented) in the months of March, April, May, and June. By July,‘BA-417’ had grown in completely, and ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) nearlyso (Table 7A). “Common” centipedegrass lagged behind and wasstatistically different from ‘BA-417’ and ‘Centennial’ (unpatented). Allthree genotypes had filled the plots by late August (Table 7A). ‘BA-417’completely covered the plots in six months, while “Common”centipedegrass and Centennial’ took seven months. ‘BA-417’ reached 50%coverage by the second month of the experiment; while “Common”centipedegrass required five months and ‘Centennial’ (unpatented)required four to five months to attain 50% plot coverage. A BreedersBlock (FIG. 3) of ‘BA-417’ was also planted in January, but in AvonPark, Fla. It attained 100% coverage in six months (Table 7B).

TABLE 1 Comparison of floral traits among ‘BA-417’, ‘Centennial’(unpatented) and “Common” centipedegrass. “Common” ‘Centennial’ centi-‘BA-417’ (unpatented) pedegrass Trait (in cm) Mean ± s.e. Mean ± s.e.Mean ± s.e. LSD α ≦ 0.05 Overall Shoot Length^((z)) 14.36 0.67 12.270.36 11.03 0.41 1.419 Seed Head Length^((y)) 5.54 0.10 4.94 0.10 5.060.09 0.273 Peduncle Length^((x)) 8.82 0.61 7.33 0.32 5.98 0.40 1.293Seed Count/Seed Head^((w)) 20.40 0.58 20.70 0.49 19.15 0.46 1.450 (ns)Spiklets/Seed Stalk^((v)) 1.10 0.07 1.90 0.14 1.50 0.11 0.321^(z)Overall shoot length is a measure of the total inflorescence lengthfrom the apex of the seed head to the first node on the pedunclesubtending the raceme, and measured in cm. ^(y)Seed Head Length ismeasured from the apex of the seed head to the top of the peduncle atthe base of the raceme. ^(x)Peduncle Length is the average pedunclelength measured from the base of the seed head to the top of the node.^(w)Seed Count/Seed head is the average number of seeds per head orraceme. ^(v)Spiklets/Seed Stalk is an average of the count.

TABLE 2 Comparison of flag leaf traits between ‘BA-417’, and “Common”centipedegrass Centipedegrass. “Common” ‘BA-417’ centipedegrass Trait(in mm) Mean ± s.e. Mean ± s.e. LSD α ≦ 0.05 Flag Leaf Length 28.02 1.1116.62 1.88 4.43 Flag Leaf Width^((z)) 3.02 0.02 1.98 0.12 0.28 SheathLength^((y)) 46.18 1.46 39.03 1.24 3.87 ^(z)Flag Leaf Width is measuredat the widest part of the leaf. ^(y)Sheath Length is measured from theapex of the base of the flag leaf to the first node subtending theinflorescence.

TABLE 3 Comparison of leaf traits among ‘BA-417’, ‘Centennial’(unpatented), and “Common” centipedegrass. ‘Centennial’ “Common”‘BA-417’ (unpatented) centipedegrass Trait (in mm) Mean ± s.e. Mean ±s.e. Mean ± s.e. LSD α ≦ 0.05 Leaf length 33.61 1.84 39.04 1.72 43.222.75 6.10 Leaf Width^((z)) 3.20 6.08 3.26 0.14 3.35 0.12 0.31 InternodeLength 20.27 1.03 20.86 1.12 17.91 0.59 2.67 Internode Width^((y)) 2.030.04 1.68 0.06 2.34 0.10 0.20 ^(z)Leaf Width is measured at the widestpoint. ^(y)Internode Width is measured at the widest point.

TABLE 4 Comparison of ratings for “Summer-Quality” among ‘BA-417’,“Common” centipedegrass, and ‘Centennial’ (unpatented)^(Z). MONTHVariety JUN JUL AUG SEP “Common” 7.00 b 7.00 c 6.75 c 6.75 cdcentipedegrass ‘Centennial’ 7.75 a 7.75 bc 7.75 abc 8.00 ab (unpatented)‘BA-417’ 8.00 a 8.50 ab 8.25 ab 8.25 a LSD α ≦ 0.05 0.68 1.13 1.28 1.14^(Z)Summer Quality is an integrated assessment of texture, color, andoverall appearance measured on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale (9.0 = Best), duringthe growing season.

TABLE 5 Color and pigmentation comparison of vegetative tissue of“Common” centipedegrasss, ‘BA-417’, and ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) basedon the Munsell Color Chart. Vegetative Tissue “Common” centipedegrass‘BA-417’ ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) Leaf Color^(Z) 5GY(4/6-8) to7.5GY(5/4) 2.5GY(5-6/2) to 7.5GY(5-6/4) 5GY(4-5/4-6) to 7.5GY(4-5/2-4)Stolon Color^(Y) Green Tissue 2.5GY(5-6/6-8) to 5GY(4-5/6-8)7.5GY(5-7/4-6) 5GY(4-6/4-6) Pigment Tissue 5RP(3-4/6-8) 5RP(3/6) to5R(3/6) 5GY(4-6/4-6) to 5R(3-4/2-4) Node Color 5RP(3/2) to 5R (3/2)5RP(3-4/4) to 2.5R(4/4) 5RP(3-4/2) to 5R(3-4/2) ^(Z)Leaf Color wasmeasured on the adaxial leaf surface. ^(Y)Stolon Color was assayed ongreen internode tissue including the green portion and the portion ofthe internode suffused with anthocyanins. ^(X)Node Color was measured onthe node at the junction point between the internodes.

TABLE 6 Comparison of average cover, stolon number and stolon lengthamong ‘BA-417’, “Common” centipedegrass and ‘Centennial’ (unpatented)measured on a monthly basis. 1 2 3 4 5 MONTH 7 8 9 10 11 12 13Trait/Variety SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCTCover^(z) ‘BA-417’ 1.0 3.33 ± 5.33 ± 11.67 ± 14.00 ± 20.00 ± 28.33 ±71.67 ± 73.33 ± 91.67 ± 97.00 ± 99.00 ± 99.00 ± 100.00 ± 0.33 0.33 6.672.08 2.89 4.41 10.93 3.33 1.67 0.0 1.00 1.00 0.00 ‘Centennial’ 1.0 3.33± 4.33 ± 13.33 ± 13.33 ± 19.00 ± 26.67 ± 60.00 ± 70.00 ± 83.33 ± 86.67 ±94.00 ± 94.00 ± 98.33 ± 0.33 0.33 1.67 1.67 3.79 7.26 14.43 2.89 4.416.01 2.08 2.08 1.45 “Common” 1.0 2.67 ± 6.67 ± 13.33 ± 19.00 ± 33.33 ±41.67 ± 80.00 ± 85.00 ± 93.33 ± 95.67 ± 98.00 ± 96.67 ± 98.03 ± 0.331.67 3.33 2.08 3.33 6.01 5.00 5.00 1.67 0.67 1.00 1.67 1.00 StolonNumber^(y) ‘BA-417’ 0 5.00 ± 6.00 ± 5.67 ± 7.33 ± 11.33 ± 10.33 ± — — —— — — — .058 1.53 1.20 0.33 1.76 2.03 ‘Centennial’ 0 4.67 ± 4.67 ± 4.67± 11.67 ± 10.33 ± 11.00 ± — — — — — — — 0.33 0.67 0.67 1.45 2.40 1.00“Common” 0 3.00 ± 4.67 ± 4.33 ± 9.00 ± 15.33 ± 15.67 ± — — — — — — —1.08 0.88 0.33 2.08 1.76 2.33 Stolon Length^(x) ‘BA-417’ 0 4.00 ± 6.67 ±6.67 ± 11.33 ± 4.75 ± 14.67 ± — — — — — — — 0.58 2.19 1.45 1.76 0.852.67 ‘Centennial’ 0 4.33 ± 4.67 ± 6.00 ± 11.33 ± 3.50 ± 13.67 ± — — — —— — — 0.88 1.20 1.15 1.33 1.19 1.86 “Common” 0 2.33 ± 7.67 ± 6.00 ±17.33 ± 5.33 ± 18.67 ± — — — — — — — 0.67 1.20 1.15 0.67 0.30 2.91^(z)Cover is measured as the cumulative percentage of cover over aprescribed plot area. ^(y)Stolon Number is a count of stolons/rhizomoesradiating from a central plug over a prescribed plot area. ^(x)StolonLength is a measure of the average length in cm of the stolons/rhizomes.

TABLE 7A Comparison of average cover among ‘BA-417’, “Common”centipedegrass, and ‘Centennial’ (unpatented) grown at the research sitein Milton, FL. Cumulative Coverage Increase (%) Variety JAN FEB MAR APRMAY JUN JUL AUG “Common” 5.00 a — 25.00 b 27.50 d 40.00 c 50.00 d 67.50d 100.00 a centipedegrass ‘Centennial’ 5.00 a — 22.50 b 40.00 cd 60.00 b75.00 b 97.50 a 100.00 a (unpatented) ‘BA-417’ 5.00 a — 75.00 a 77.50 a95.00 a 92.50 a 100.00 a 100.00 a LSD α ≦ 0.05 — — 20.80 18.90 15.5013.00 15.00 — ^(Z)Cover is measured as the cumulative percentage coverover a prescribed plot area.

TABLE 7B Rate of coverage increase of the Breeders Block ‘BA-417’ grownin Avon Park, FL and pictured in FIG. 2. Cumulative Coverage Increase(%) Variety HAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG ‘BA-417’ 1.00 2.00 12.0025.00 45.00 80.00 100.00 100.00 ^(Z)Cover is measured as the cumulativepercentage cover over a prescribed plot area.

1. A new and distinct genotype of Centipedegrass plant with a morerefined leaf structure as demonstrated by significantly shorter andnarrower leaves than the standard vegetatively propagated varieties ofcentipedegrass.